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NASCAR honors Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon: Friday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards gala at the Wynn Las Vegas honored series champion Kyle Busch for one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of professional sports. But Busch, car owner Joe Gibbs and champion crew chief Adam Stevens had to share the stage and the limelight with retiring four-time champion Jeff Gordon, who bade a tearful farewell after 23 full-time seasons and 797 consecutive races in NASCAR's premier series - complete with a surprise introduction by mega movie star Tom Cruise. The awards banquet capped an extraordinary year for Busch, who missed the first 11 events of the season after breaking his right leg and left foot when his #54 Toyota plowed into a concrete wall inside Turn 1 at Daytona International Speedway in the NASCAR XFINITY Series season opener. Against all odds, Busch returned to action at Charlotte in May and proceeded to win five of the final 25 races, including the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the event that made him a champion.
"We've all heard the old saying 'Break a leg!' which means, you're wishing someone good luck in show biz," Busch said. "Well, as I stand here today and think about how lucky I am, I can say without a doubt, that breaking a leg AND a foot works just as good in racing. One day, I went from being able to win races, to the next where I was just thinking about how I was going to be able to walk into the delivery room with (wife) Samantha to be a part of the birth of our son Brexton. I can't thank Dr. Todd McCall and Dr. Bob Anderson for putting me back together as well as they did. Anyone looking to have leg or foot surgery, just ask for the Kyle Busch special." The surgery and extensive rehabilitation paid off, as Busch was able to hold off defending series champion Kevin Harvick in the Championship Round race at Homestead.
Cruise, who played California driver Cole Trickle in the movie "Days of Thunder" (an interloper much as Vallejo, California native Gordon was when he came to stock car racing in the early 1990s), summed up Gordon's stature as a champion driver and a statesman for the sport in one sentence. "He felt as comfortable discussing a championship with George Bush as he did breaking down a Homestead race with Kyle Busch," said Cruise, who went on to introduce Gordon as "my friend, the four-time champion, the legend - Jeff Gordon." After Cruise's appearance came another surprise. NASCAR Chairman & CEO Brian France conferred the seldom given Bill France Award on the retiring champion, an recognition that had not been presented since Gordon's car owner, Rick Hendrick, was honored in 2009. "You're the very definition of a champion, and quite simply, you changed the sport for the better," France said. Indeed, Gordon's most emotional moment during a heartfelt speech came when he choked back tears while thanking Rick and Linda Hendrick for hiring him in the first place.
"Rick and Linda Hendrick, thank you so much for choosing me to be your driver," said Gordon, who finished third in the championship standings. "I'm so proud to say I only drove for one car owner - and the best car owner - my entire Sprint Cup career."
Fourth-place finisher Martin Truex Jr. provided another emotional moment when he spoke of long-time partner Sherry Pollex's battle against ovarian cancer. "I'd like to thank Sharon, Sherry's mom, and her family for their incredible support throughout Sherry's battle," Truex said. "Sherry, I can't thank you enough for being in my life, you're a true inspiration and I love you very much."(NASCAR Wire Service)(12-5-2015)

NBCSN Presents 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards: Following 21 consecutive weeks of live NASCAR race coverage, NBC Sports Group puts a bow on its 2015 season with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards ceremony Friday, Dec. 4, at 9:00pm/et on NBCSN from Las Vegas, Nev. NBCSN joins NASCAR in celebrating the remarkable season that was, featuring special tributes to this year's Champion, Kyle Busch, and retiring legend, Jeff Gordon. Friday evening's NASCAR coverage begins with two special editions of Scan All 43, starting at 6:00pm/et on NBCSN. First up is an in-depth look and listen at the races that set the stage for this year's Sprint Cup Championship, with all-access passes to the Chase events at Martinsville Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway. At 6:30pm/et, NBCSN presents a Scan All 43 featuring dedicated audio from the Nov. 22nd NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship race in Miami. At 7:00pm NBCSN's pre-award coverage begins with a special edition of NASCAR America hosted by Dave Briggs alongside analysts Kyle Petty in studio and Dale Jarrett from Burton's Garage. Krista Voda, Kelli Stavast, Rick Allen and Rutledge Wood report on-site from the Sprint Cup Series Awards in Las Vegas, NV. Red carpet coverage from the Wynn Las Vegas begins at 8:00pm/et on NBCSN. Wood and Stavast deliver interviews with drivers, their guests and celebrities as they enter the celebration. The official award ceremony, hosted by Drew Carey, begins at 9:00pm/et on NBCSN. The evening's musical lineup includes triple-platinum selling recording artist Andy Grammer, country star Sam Hunt, singer of double platinum hit single "Fight Song" Rachel Platten, and multi-talented singer and songwriter Sabrina Carpenter.(NBC Sports)(12-4-2015)

Drew Carey to Host NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards: The celebration will continue after the trophy is lifted at Homestead-Miami Speedway as NASCAR presents the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards hosted by actor and comedian Drew Carey. Live from Wynn Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 4, fans can tune-in to watch as the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion is honored with red carpet coverage beginning at 8:00pm/et on NBCSN, Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, followed by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards broadcast on NBCSN at 9:00pm/et.
This year's show will also feature a lineup of performances from award-winning musical artists Andy Grammer, Sam Hunt, Rachel Platten, and Sabrina Carpenter.
As the current host of The Price is Right and former host of Who's Line is it Anyway?, Drew Carey will bring a seasoned air of entertainment and comedy to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards stage. Best known for his self-portrayal on The Drew Carey Show, which garnered seven Emmy nominations, Carey has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including three People's Choice Awards, an Editor's Choice TV Guide Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"This has been a tremendous year for NASCAR, and I'm honored to host this headlining event as fans all across the country tune-in to pay homage to the accomplishments of the 2015 champion," said Carey. "I look forward to rounding out the 2015 NASCAR® racing season with a night of epic proportions alongside some of the greatest names in sports and entertainment."
Triple-platinum selling recording artist Andy Grammer will perform at the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards. The pop singer best known for hits such as "Keep Your Head Up" and "Back Home" took America by storm in 2015 with his smash single, "Honey, I'm Good" turning it into one of the year's catchiest songs. A deluxe edition of his sophomore album, Magazines Or Novels was released on Nov. 20 featuring Andy's brand new single, "Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah.)"
The evening's musical lineup will also feature country star Sam Hunt, who took home the honor of New Artist of the Year at Sunday night's American Music Awards. His critically-acclaimed debut album Montevallo has so far produced three consecutive No. 1 platinum-selling singles with "Leave the Night On," "House Party" and the double-platinum "Take Your Time," plus his current platinum-selling Top 15, "Break Up In A Small Town."
Rachel Platten, one of this year's breakout artists with her double platinum No. 1 hit single, "Fight Song", will also grace the awards stage. Her current chart-climbing single, "Stand By You" will be released on her highly-anticipated forthcoming album, Wildfire.
Rounding out the night's performances will be multi-talented singer / songwriter Sabina Carpenter, who currently stars on the Disney Channel original series Girl Meets World. Carpenter released her debut album, Eyes Wide Open earlier this year, which features "We'll be the Stars" and its namesake single, "Eyes Wide Open."
"The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards marks the pinnacle of our season as we have the opportunity to commend the drivers and teams for all of their hard work and dedication throughout the year," said Zane Stoddard, NASCAR vice president of entertainment marketing and content development. "With Drew Carey at the wheel and a lineup of performances from some of the most celebrated entertainers in the music industry, it will certainly be a finale to remember for everyone joining us in Las Vegas and the NASCAR fans watching at home."
This year's artists will join a star-studded group of actors and musicians who have previously performed at NASCAR's championship celebration, including Lady Antebellum, Sara Bareilles, Dierks Bentley, and Kid Rock. Part of the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week in Las Vegas, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards is the headlining experience in a series of events that also includes the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Fanfest, NASCAR After The Lap and NASCAR Victory Lap, where fans get a front row seat as the 16 Challengers roar down Las Vegas Boulevard. Visit www.NASCAR.com/ChampionsWeek to view the full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week schedule.(NASCAR)(11-24-2015)

Annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week Festivities to Celebrate: As The Championship 4 get ready to race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series trophy at Homestead-Miami Speedway, preparations are underway in Las Vegas for annual postseason celebrations honoring the eventual 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers, and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year. Running Dec. 1-4, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week will once again bring together the "who's who" of the racing industry, celebrities and fans for a robust schedule of events featuring the DAYTONA Rising / NASCAR Motorsports Marketing Forum, the annual NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon, and the star-studded NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards. Wynn Las Vegas, the premier resort destination in Las Vegas, will serve as headquarters for NASCAR during the week.
This year's events will bring fans closer to their favorite drivers than ever before, featuring special guests and giveaways at The LINQ Promenade, an open-air fan hub offering retail and restaurant options along with the world's tallest observation wheel, the High Roller. Fans will also get the chance to watch all 16 Chase drivers take their race cars to the streets for NASCAR Victory Lap Fueled by Sunoco, an annual parade down Las Vegas Boulevard featuring burnouts and pre-event festivities.
New to the event this year, NBCSN's Rutledge Wood and television personality Courtney Hansen will host the fan-favorite driver tell-all, NASCAR After The Lap sponsored by Ford and Sprint. In addition, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards will debut a revamped Red Carpet walk offering select fans a chance to see many of their favorite drivers before they enter the Awards. Fans can stop by The LINQ Promenade to check out the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week schedule and learn more about how to secure access to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Red Carpet. NBCSN will broadcast this year's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards, with coverage beginning at 9:00pm/et. Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the awards show live at 8:00pm/et.
For more information on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week in Las Vegas, visit NASCAR.com. Following is a rundown of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week activities; all times are Pacific time unless otherwise noted.Tuesday, Dec. 1
· NASCAR Live: Eli Gold will sit down with the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion to discuss his road to the championship. NASCAR Live will air from inside the Race and Sports Book at Wynn Las Vegas from 4 - 5 p.m. on Motor Racing Network. This event is free to the public. Fans in attendance will have a chance to participate in the live broadcast.Tuesday - Wednesday, Dec. 1 - 2
· DAYTONA Rising / NASCAR Motorsports Marketing Forum: Part one of the annual DAYTONA Rising / NASCAR Motorsports Marketing Forum, presented by SportsBusiness Daily/Global/Journal, will bring together industry decision-makers for insights and thought-provoking discussions on the state of motorsports. The event will be held at The Mirage Las Vegas. Media credentials are required and to register click here.Wednesday - Friday, Dec. 2 - 4
· Champion's Week Live at The LINQ Promenade: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week fan experience will be anchored in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip - Champion's Week Live at The LINQ Promenade, the ultimate NASCAR fan headquarters. Open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. each day, fans can purchase merchandise of The Challenger 16 at the NASCAR Superstore, get their photo taken with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series trophy and view The Challenger 16 cars on display. For a full list of activities, fans and media can visit NASCAR.com.Wednesday, Dec. 2
· Fanfest Presented by Las Vegas Motor Speedway: A fan-favorite event, the seventh annual LVMS Fanfest will begin at 2 p.m. at the Fremont Street Experience. This event is free to the public and will consist of a red carpet walk by the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Challengers, followed by a special "game show format" event. Select fans may be chosen to participate in an onstage game with the drivers for a chance to win two tickets to the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards held two nights later at Wynn Las Vegas.Thursday, Dec. 3
· NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon: The annual awards luncheon and industry gathering will take place from 11 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. in the Encore Ballroom at Wynn Las Vegas, where several team and individual awards will be presented. Hosted by FOX Sports personality Mike Joy, the event will be live-streamed on NASCAR.com.
· NASCAR Victory Lap Fueled by Sunoco: Fans can catch their favorite driver during pre-race
introductions hosted by FOX Sports reporter Jamie Little at 2:45 p.m. The green flag on the Victory Lap will fly at 3:30 p.m. when the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers parade down Las Vegas Boulevard in their race cars. NASCAR Victory Lap will start in front of the Miracle Mile Shops and finish at The LINQ. For a full list of where each driver will participate in burnouts, fans can visit The LINQ Promenade earlier in the week. The event will be simulcast live on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and NASCAR.com.
· NASCAR After The Lap sponsored by Ford and Sprint: A must-see event, NASCAR After The Lap sponsored by Ford and Sprint will take place from 5 - 6:30 p.m. at The Pearl Theater inside Palms Casino Resort. All 16 Chase Challengers will appear on stage and give fans behind-the-scenes info about their lives on and off the track. The event will be simulcast live on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and NASCAR.com.Friday, Dec. 4
· Championship Year in Review: SiriusXM NASCAR Radio host Claire B. Lang will be joined live from 1-3 p.m. by the championship winning driver, owner, crew chief and other crew members in an exclusive two-hour retrospective on their championship-winning season.
· 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards: This black-tie celebration will be held at Wynn Las Vegas, where the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion driver and owner and the other Chase drivers will be honored. The drivers and stars will walk the Red Carpet from 4 - 5 p.m. NBCSN will broadcast this year's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards, with coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET. Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the awards show live at 8:00pm/et.
· Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide Reveal: The Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide will be given to an outstanding volunteer who has made a profound impact on children in his or her community. The NASCAR Foundation will announce the national award winner during this year's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards and donate $100,000 to the winner's chosen charity. Fans can cast their vote for the 2015 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award winner by visiting NASCAR.com before 11:59pm/et on Dec. 3.(NASCAR)(11-19-2015)

The Diplomat Resort and Spa to host XFINITY, NCWTS awards: NASCAR announced today that the annual NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards will take place Monday, Nov. 23 at the Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood, Florida. The Diplomat Resort and Spa also will host the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' Championship 4 Media Day on Thursday, Nov. 19. At the event, the four remaining eligible drivers in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship will take center stage to preview the series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This is the first year the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards will be held at the venue, one of South Florida's premier beachfront resorts. "NASCAR and our fans have enjoyed an action-packed year in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series," said NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Steve Phelps. "We look forward to recognizing our sport's champions and toasting to the season at a first-class venue in the Diplomat Resort and Spa." In its inaugural year, the NASCAR XFINITY Series has proven that it is indeed the series "Where Names Are Made." The current leaderboard is crowded at the top with Chris Buescher , Ty Dillon and Chase Elliott leading the points standings, and a pair of NASCAR Drive for Diversity graduates in Darrell Wallace Jr. and Daniel Suarez engaged in a close battle for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. The rough-and-tumble racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series promises to produce a battle-tested champion. Contenders include two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Matt Crafton and 19-year-old future stars Erik Jones and Tyler Reddick . If Crafton clinches the 2015 title, he would become only the third driver in NASCAR national series history to win a championship in three consecutive seasons. The NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards will air on NBCSN at 7 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 29.(NASCAR.com)(9-10-2015)

NASCAR After The Lap returns: NASCAR announced that NASCAR After The Lap, sponsored by Ford and Sprint, will return to Las Vegas for its seventh-consecutive year. The event will once again take place at the Pearl Palms Concert Theater inside the Palms Casino Hotel on Thursday, December 3. Now in the second year of the expanded field of challengers competing in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, attendees will be able to see this year's best drivers - all 16 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup contenders - in what has become a highly anticipated event during the week-long season-end celebration. NASCAR After The Lap provides fans with an opportunity to win once-in-a-lifetime prizes and NASCAR experiences. Through November 22, NASCAR fans entering the NASCAR After The Lap sweepstakes will have the opportunity to win a 2016 Ford F-150. Additionally, two winners will receive an all-inclusive VIP trip for two to NASCAR After The Lap, including roundtrip airfare, hotel, ground transportation and VIP event access. NASCAR fans can enter for a chance to win by visiting www.NASCARafterthelap.com. Tickets for NASCAR After The Lap are priced at $20 and go on sale on Monday, September 21. For fans unable to attend NASCAR After The Lap, NASCAR.com will offer a live stream of the event.(NASCAR)(8-15-2015)

NASCAR, Las Vegas renew agreement to Host NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards: NASCAR announced that the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards - and all of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week - will return to Las Vegas in 2015 as part of a renewed partnership with the destination. The agreement ensures that Las Vegas will continue hosting the week-long celebration, offering fans and industry members a chance to see the sport's stars and congratulate the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards will headline NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week at Wynn Las Vegas on December 4, 2015. The 16th annual DAYTONA Rising / NASCAR Motorsports Marketing Forum, hosted by SportsBusiness Journal, will kick off NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week festivities at The Mirage on December 1-2.
"We've had a great experience in Las Vegas and are very pleased to extend our partnership with the city," said NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Steve Phelps. "Las Vegas has consistently set the stage for a vibrant, exciting NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week, when the sport looks back on the season and toasts its newest Champion."
NASCAR began hosting its premier series awards show in Las Vegas in 2009 following a 28-year run in New York City. Since then, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards and Champion's Week has hosted events at over 30 venues along the famous Las Vegas Strip, drawing the sport's top drivers and an assortment of high-profile musical and celebrity guests.
"We are thrilled that NASCAR and Las Vegas will continue their strong and successful partnership as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week return for the seventh year," said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. "Each year this event gets bigger and better, and Las Vegas provides the ultimate backdrop to this unrivaled experience in the most exciting city in the world."
For the first time, the DAYTONA Rising / NASCAR Motorsports Marketing Forum will expand to a third day and make its debut at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, providing sports industry executives an inside look at the newly completed DAYTONA Rising project. The DAYTONA Rising / NASCAR Motorsports Marketing Forum has established itself as the premier event where thought leaders both in and out of the racing community gather to discuss, debate and share insights that impact the future of racing. Registration is required at MotorsportsMarketingForum.com, and more details on the agenda will be shared in the weeks and months ahead.
"We're very happy to expand our 2015 NASCAR Motorsports Marketing program to include a Daytona component on February 17, given how much excitement there is surrounding the DAYTONA Rising project," said Richard Weiss, Publisher of SportsBusiness Journal. "It's a win-win combination for attendees who will join in our December Motorsports Marketing Forum discussions in Las Vegas who will now also be able to get an insider's perspective on the Daytona International Speedway project."
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards will air on NBCSN beginning at 9:00pm/et. MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the awards show live at 8:00pm/et.(NASCAR)(8-3-2015)

NASCAR announces it won't hold Truck Series and Xfinity Series banquet at Donald Trump's resort: NASCAR will not return to the Trump National Doral Miami resort for its postseason Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series banquet after Donald Trump's recent comments on the presidential campaign trail. NASCAR moved that postseason awards ceremony to Trump's resort last year. It had not announced the location for the 2015 event, and NASCAR spokesman David Higdon said Friday at Daytona International Speedway that the decision not to return was made earlier in the day. "We started talking about it earlier this week, and we were evaluating everything," Higdon said. "We'll stick with our plan to announce later this summer where we will be going. We looked at obviously everything that we saw coming down and what we heard from our sponsors and our partners and what we feel we should be doing, and that is what led us to the decision today." One of the biggest NASCAR sponsors lobbied to have the event moved. Camping World Chairman and CEO Marcus Lemonis wrote in a letter dated for Tuesday that neither he nor anyone from Camping World would participate in an event at any Trump property "due to recent and ongoing blatantly bigoted and racist comments from Donald Trump in regards to immigrants of the United States." Trump has made several comments about immigrants while on the campaign trail.(ESPN)(7-4-2015)